It is unavoidable – processing colour images using some types of algorithms may cause subtle changes in the colour of an image which affect its aesthetic value. We have seen this in certain forms of the unsharp masking parameters used in ImageJ. How do we avoid this? One way is to create a more complicated algorithm, but the reality is that without knowing exactly how a pixel contributes to an object that’s basically impossible. Another way, which is way more convenient is to use a separable colour space. RGB is not separable – the red, green and blue components must work together to form an image. Modify one of these components, and it will have an affect on the rest of them. However if we use a colour space such as HSV (Hue-Saturation-Value), HSB (Hue-Saturation-Brightness) or CIELab, we can avoid colour shifts altogether. This is because these colour spaces separate luminance from colour information, therefore image sharpening can be performed on the luminance layer only – something known as luminance sharpening.

Luminance,  brightness, or intensity can be thought of as the “structural” information in the image. For example first we convert an image from RGB to HSB, then process only the brightness layer of the HSB image. Then convert back to RGB. For example, below are two original regions extracted from an image, both containing differing levels of blur.

Here is the RGB processed image (UM, radius=10, mask weight=0.5):

Note the subtle changes in colour in the region surrounding the letters? Almost a halo-type effect. This sort of colour shift should be avoided. Now below is the HSB processed image using the same parameters applied to only the brightness layer:

Notice that there are acuity improvements in both images, however it is more apparent in the right half, “rent K”. The black objects in the left half, have had their contrast improved, i.e. the black got blacker against the yellow background, and hence their acuity has been marginally enhanced. Neither suffers from colour shifts.